Taken Too Early...

By Tony Lee

It surprised me this week when Warren Ellis spoke of Rory Root being ill. I mean, we always knew that he wasn't the healthiest of men, but to suddenly have him in a coma due to complications during surgery? It was unthinkable. The guy was unkillable, he was the fixed point of the San Diego Comic Con, always on his stool by the entrance to the Comic Relief booth, a bucket of tea with a handle on the side his constant companion, our out the front, cigarette in hand.

And then, no more than a day later, we heard the terrible news, that Rory had passed away.

I'd first met Rory online about three years ago, when I was first pimping Midnight Kiss on the CBIA boards. At the time I didn't know him from Adam, and I certainly wouldn't have known that he was one of the most respected and loved guys in the business. He was just a shop keeper on the forum who made valid suggestions about how I should market the book. And the following San Diego I sought him out so I could thank him.

And from that came a kind of friendship, albeit one that occurred once a year at the largest comic convention in the world – because that was the kind of guy that Rory was. Even spending five minutes with him every 365 days was enough to make you realise that this guy? He was special. He was someone you actively sought out to find, to say hi to. And he was always happy to talk to you, no matter who you were.

In 2007 I took an Ashcan of Hope Falls with me to show him, the book coming out later that year. He wasn't there when I found the booth, so I left it with one of the clerks. Two hours later I see Rory walking over to me, and the look on his face? It was a look of utter apology. It seemed that someone had picked up the ashcan on the side of the till, thinking it was a convention giveaway and, well, taking it. I'd made about fifty of these so I wasn't fussed and rummaged around to find a replacement to give him, but Rory was adamant—he'd taken the food from my mouth, as far as he was concerned, given away a most important item of mine. I laughed it off, actually happy that someone out there had been interested enough to pick it up, and even offered to give Rory another twenty so that he could give them to readers. He agreed, and took them off my hands. Whether he gave them away or danced on them, I have no idea.

On the Sunday I was in there buying some hardbacks and, as I was at the till, I suddenly hear Rory's voice—stopping one of the rather expensive hardbacks being put through the till.

'That's your payment for the books you gave me.' He replies with a smile. I start to protest but, as anyone here who knows Rory will attest, he was a stubborn son of a bitch. He had decided that, as he had been giving away my comic, ashcan as it was, I deserved some kind of recompense. And so I got the hardback Planet Hulk as payment. And to date? That's the best result I've had for Hope Falls, because the rest was just money.

Rory Root was one of a kind, cut from a cloth that's hard to find these days. If more retailers were like Rory? Then comics would not only sell better, but have a better reputation among fans and non fans alike.

When I started to write this, I saw that many other creators had put together some words, so I contacted a few for their own thoughts on Rory. Some managed to write new words for me, some graciously allowed me to take from their own thoughts. And so, with no further delay, some more thoughts about Rory.

Dean Haspiel:

The few times I met and briefly gabbed with Rory Root were pleasant and cheeky and I always walked away feeling that he cared. If Rory was able to impart that kind of verve and commitment to comix like he did to me throughout the day, then the comix industry was in better hands than I ever thought and we've lost a great captain.

Josh Fialkov:

Everybody, everywhere are posting their Rory Root stories for all to see. For those who don't know, Rory was one of the real landmark retailers in the country. He managed to run a huge shop in a competitive market, cater to everyone, and, do it with a kind heart and a smile. In this business, that's a rarity. He was a man who geniuinely loved what he did, and wanted everybody to love it as much as he did. Earlier this evening, he passed away.

At Comic-Con last year, I was signing at his booth and he didn't have any copies of Elk's Run on hand. He'd ordered the books, and Random House for whatever reason, failed to deliver. He was furious. Not at me, but, at my publisher, and at himself. And not one of those huffy "You're losing money, asshole!" ways. He said that he was upset that a creator whose work he loved was at his booth and that he was being embarrassed by not having his favorite work by that author at his booth.

It might've just been Rory feeding me a line, but, I know that I walked a little bit prouder knowing that Rory at the very least knew who I was, and cared enough to put on a good show. The guy was a class act, with an even bigger heart. His kind words of encouragement always brightened me up during a gruelling con, and frankly, the thought of San Diego without Rory perched on his stool... it's hard to imagine.

So, here's to Rory wherever he is, I'm sure it's well-organized and stocked to the gills with all of his favorite books.

Charles Brownstein, CBLDF:

Rory was a dear friend, and there are many memories. Lord knows, there are plenty of stories about Rory. Enough to fill a fat, heavy book that he'd buy from you at 70 off at the end of the con because he knows you don't wanna pay to ship it back.

Rory was incredibly generous. He took great pride in his field, he cared about the people in it, and he championed their efforts. Rory's pride in comics was projected through his creation of a retail environment that was inviting to anyone, and that sent you out with a sense of interest and excitement about comic books.

I'm a textbook example of Rory's generous nature. Back when I was a teenager, he offered tremendous counsel and encouragement for Feature, the magazine I was publishing at the time. He taught me a great deal about the business in those early days, and continued to do so in the years to come. Rory's counsel was profound.

And, I'm just one of hundreds of people with stories like that. Rory's wisdom, patience, humor, knowledge and warmth served us all well.

We're much poorer without him.

Thanks Rory. We miss you.

Richard Starkings:

Back when I had time to look around the San Diego Comic Con, Rory's Comic Relief booth was always my first port of call. Why? Because I always knew it would be in the same place (did they actually move it in between Cons?!) and it always felt like Rory knew I was coming.

Comic Relief was one of the few places I knew I could find TINTIN product and after Just One Visit, on all subsequent occasions Rory would see me and direct me to all things TINTIN at his booth. He seemed genuinely disappointed if he had nothing new for me, not because of the lost sale, but because I was going away empty handed... You'll still see me in the hotel lobby prior to a show with a bright blue holdall sporting a Tintin Explorers on the Moon motif... purchased at Comic Relief SDCC. Thanks, Rory!

Antony Johnston:

Like all great booksellers, Rory was as enthusiastic about brave and creative new works as he was about guaranteed bestsellers. Every time I met him he had a new favourite book to recommend, and he was never wrong. He could pick a future classic from a thousand new books with unerring accuracy.

But more than that, Rory never tugged his forelock to comics' detractors. He was proud to sell what he knew were great stories. He was militant about the need for freedom of press and artistry in the industry, arguing with authority and vehemence for comics' validity as an artform, deserving of all the same protections and privileges as prose literature.

Rory held his head up high, and we were all proud to hold ours up right alongside him. His voice, his presence, his knowledge and most of all his kindness will be sadly missed.

B Clay Moore:

Rory was one of the first retailers I became keenly aware of when I started promoting Hawaiian Dick, and when I subsequently handled PR & Marketing for Image Comics. I quickly learned that there were a handful of guys I could always count on for honesty, support, and measured advice, and Rory was easily at the front of that line. There was no drama, no cursing the heavens over how unfair the industry was from Rory. Just a sincere passion for what he did, and respect for the medium and those who toiled within its boundaries.

The first time I visited Comic Relief in Berkeley, Rory was absent...something I mentioned while raving about his shop in an online forum. In his understated way, Rory thanked me for my enthusiasm, and asked me to call before I visited the next time, so he could be sure to be there when I dropped by. Not a huge gesture, but a telling one. He'll be missed.

Billy Tucci:

I remember when Shi first came out and Rory being such a strong supporter of my book and Indies in general. Over the years we stayed in touch and he was always there to offer advice with my annoying phone calls. I'm so sorry to hear this.

It's just not fair.

R.I.P. Rory.

Erik Larsen:

I can't begin to express the loss people are feeling for Rory. He was one of the good ones. Rory loved comics. He always helped people find what they were looking for, he made excellent suggestions–he didn't look down on people for reading books that he didn't care for but he'd gently suggest that they check out superior books in a similar vein. He carried a very eclectic bunch of books and his store is a veritable treasure chest of cool stuff. This is the kind of store most readers can only dream about and Rory was the glue that held it all together.

Comic Relief will endure, I have no doubt. Rory has an excellent staff of dedicated professionals that know their business but Rory will be sorely missed. He was an intelligent, articulate, caring and engaging human being and a friend to everybody that knew him.

Damn.

There were so many more I could have put up, so many people who wanted to express their sorrow to the loss of Rory. Beau Smith has a special Busted Knuckles on this very site.

And then there were the people who couldn't write the words, to whom it was too much of a shock, people who said 'I'd love to—but I just can't find the words.'

Rory Root passed away on the 19th May 2008. He was fifty years old. And he was taken from us way too soon.

If you would like to make a contribution to the cause that Rory kept very close to his heart you can make a donation to The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) in his name.

And that's it for this week. Sorry there was a lack of humour. Wherever you are as you read this, raise a glass, make a toast to Rory Root, one of the greatest guys in comics.

---

Discuss this column at the Only A Forum forum.
© 2008, Tony Lee

---